The Los Angeles Dodgers made easy work of the Chicago Cubs at the 2025 Major League Baseball Tokyo Series, sweeping the two-game series. The Dodgers took Tuesday’s game 4-1 and followed that with a 6-3 win on Wednesday.
Most of the international focus was on the Japanese stars at the Tokyo Series, and rightly so. Japanese players with previous Nippon Professional Baseball experience in the series included Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki of the Dodgers. The trio were teammates on the 2023 World Baseball Classic champion Samurai Japan team.
For the Cubs, starting pitcher Shota Imanaga and designated hitter Seiya Suzuki made headlines for their return to Japan. However, one American player made international baseball history with his hit in the top of the second inning of Wednesday’s game.
According to MLB Network’s Sarah Langs on X, Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy became the fourth player in MLB history to record a hit in five countries or territories with his double in game two of the series against Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele.
The three other players who accomplished the feat were Paul Goldschmidt (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom), Xander Bogaerts (U.S., Canada, Mexico, England, and South Korea), and Edgardo Alfonzo (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Japan).
Max Muncy now has at least one hit in Japan, the US, Canada, Mexico & South Korea
he’s the 4th MLB player with a hit in 5 countries/territories, joining:
Xander Bogaerts
Paul Goldschmidt
Edgardo Alfonzoh/t @EliasSports
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 19, 2025
Muncy has recorded a hit in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. He finished the Tokyo Series 1-for-9 with two walks.
“I’m very thankful I get to be a part of these events that we’ve been doing,” Muncy told DodgerBlue.com. “I’m thankful I was able to be a part of Korea last year, be a part of Japan this year, be a part of Mexico when we did it back in 2018. It’s just a blessing to be able to do that.”
The 34-year-old continued by saying that accomplishing the feat of at least one hit in five countries was unplanned but amusing.
“You’re talking about trying to grow the game of baseball, experiencing different cultures, it’s just really cool to be able to do it,” Muncy told DodgerBlue.com. “That stat is a random one, but it’s fun.”
According to SportsNet, Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts has recorded hits in four countries. However, the outfielder missed both games of the Tokyo Series due to illness.
The Dodgers’ domestic Opening Day is Thursday, March 27, against the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The game starts at 7:10 p.m. EDT.
Photo: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy connects for a double in the second inning of an MLB Tokyo Series baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
